Ban orders extended for a week

The Kharsawan project site

Jamshedpur, July 23: Prohibitory orders will continue to be in force at the project site of Corporate Ispat and Alloy Limited in Kharsawan, indicating the local administration’s unease about allowing the Abhijeet Group subsidiary to resume work on their proposed steel plant.

At a meeting today to review the decision to impose Section 144 in the area after the July 18 attack on company staff, Seraikela-Kharsawan deputy commissioner A.K. Mishra decided to extend the ban orders till July 29.

He said they had studied the area and decided to continue with prohibitory orders for some more time as the situation near the plant site, that was ransacked after a 400-strong mob attacked company staff as a reaction to rumours of child sacrifice, was tense but under control.

So far, 10 people have been arrested.

Seraikela-Kharsawan SP Abhishek said investigations had revealed more names of suspects. “We are conducting raids to apprehend them,” he told The Telegraph.

The SP did not rule out the involvement of a few disgruntled elements within the company. “We are sure the attack was given shape by locals. But, we are not ruling out the involvement of some employees,” he said.

The police have recovered 15 laptops, a printer and ceiling fans that had been looted by the mob during the attack. “The laptops belong to company employees. We have also recovered a gun which was snatched from a security guard,” he said.